Nelson and Morgan to be recognized as highest ranking graduates at BHSU commencement

Andrea Nelson and Jed Morgan will be honored as the highest ranking students during the Black Hills State University Spring 2012 commencement ceremony Saturday, May 5.

Nelson and Morgan are among 445 candidates for graduation who will be recognized for completion of their University degrees Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. in the Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center on the BHSU campus in Spearfish.

Degree candidates for the spring 2012 BHSU graduation ceremony include 112 master’s degrees, 326 bachelor’s degrees, and seven associate degrees. The 2012 class includes a record number of candidates for bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees

The students, Andrea Nelson, from Rapid City, and Jed Morgan, from Loveland, Colo., both majored in business administration and have extensive involvement in campus groups complimenting their high academic achievement.

Nelson came to BHSU from Stevens High School in Rapid City. While at BHSU she received numerous recognitions including being recognized as the featured marketing student in spring 2011, and is a member of the Student Advisory Board, Sigma Iota Epsilon, Sigma Beta Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

Nelson says her love of the Black Hills region and her interest in studying business drew her to BHSU and notes that “BHSU was simply the right fit for me.” It’s apparent that Nelson was a good fit for BHSU too. During her educational experience she enhanced her learning through several experiential learning opportunities. Nelson served as president of Buzz Marketing and was also a member and officer of the Yellow Jacket Delegates. As a member of the delegates, Nelson gave tours to prospective students and attended monthly recruiting events. She also served as a marketing intern for Lutherans Outdoors.

In 2010 Nelson gained international experience serving as a conversational English teacher at Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Through the international studies program at BHSU, Nelson wrote a syllabus for a college-level conversational English course, taught classes, led class activities, and made daily lesson plans to accomplish course objectives.

Nelson, who will earn her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and management and a minor in commercial arts, is currently working as a project manager at Spore Creative in Rapid City.

Morgan, who is two-time All-American scholar-athlete, says he choose BHSU due to the beautiful outdoor setting and the powerful distance running tradition established by Coach Scott Walkinshaw. Morgan was a member of the Yellow Jacket cross country and track teams for four years and says that scholar-athlete has greatly enhanced his educational experience. Morgan earned All American recognition and was a conference champion in the in the steeplechase, and he earned runner-up in the cross country conference.

Morgan was also a member of the Jacket Investment Club. That involvement led him to an internship with Pioneer Bank and Trust last summer. He also completed an internship with Fresh Start Gas Station and Convenience Store this fall.

After Morgan earns his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting and management, he plans to work for Casey Peterson and Associates in Rapid City as an auditor.

Both Morgan and Nelson expressed their sincere thanks to scholarship donors who made their successful educational career possible. Nelson received the BHSU Business Administration Scholarship in 2009 and the Montana Dakota Utilities and Jane M. Claussen Scholarships in 2011.

Morgan earned the Buzz Bonus, Business, Bob and Vicki Worth, Track & Field, and Kiwanis International Scholarships in 2008 and the Buzz Bonus and Business Scholarships in 2009.

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